COURTESY OF NIVOSO
ROBOT INVENTOR: Minakov stands with a smaller version of his creation
As a kid in Minnesota, Max Minakov decided to start a snow-clearing business. But shoveling snow was hard work. “It hurt my back, and I kind of dreaded doing it,” Minakov recalls. Then he had an idea: What if a robot could do the job for him? Minakov, now 21, has turned his childhood dream into reality. He’s created a snowplowing robot that can operate autonomously—on its own—or via remote control. It uses spinning brushes to whisk away snow from driveways and sidewalks. Minakov hopes to sell his invention to homeowners and businesses, allowing more people to enjoy snowy days without breaking a sweat.